Germany Backs Eurofighter Jet Sale to Turkiye: Merz Signals Approval

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made positive messages over the possible deal of the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter planes to Turkiye at a joint briefing with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London. Germany Backs Eurofighter Jet Sale to Turkiye: Merz Signals Approval the statement came during the signing of the UK-Germany friendship treaty, a historic accord aimed at strengthening defense ties and industrial cooperation between the two nations.

This marks a significant policy shift, as Germany had previously been hesitant regarding the Eurofighter sale to Turkiye. With Germany Backs Eurofighter Jet Sale to Turkiye: Merz Signals Approval, the long-standing diplomatic deadlock that stalled the multi-billion dollar arms deal appears to have ended. Reports confirm that Germany lifted the freeze on the Eurofighter Typhoon jets sale to Turkiye on June 26, 2025, after years of political gridlock.

Chancellor Merz also gave an optimistic answer on whether the new accord would make it easier to sell jointly produced defense items such as the Eurofighter jets to Turkiye when he was specifically asked this question on whether the new treaty would rid the industry of the current complications in the sale of jointly produced defense items. The question of export license was also discussed. A final decision is still not in place but we are headed towards a good decision which may also lead to a matching export license, Merz said during the press conference in London.

The diplomatic terminology adopted by the Chancellor even though he did not mention any country clearly showed that Germany is tilting to a more accepting view on the Turkiye Eurofighter deal. This is a sharp contrast to earlier government stands of Germany under which the multinational defense export deal had been stalled.

Eurofighter Typhoon program is one of the most successful multinational defense projects that is constructed by a group of partners which includes Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain. Major defense contractors such as Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo depict the manufacturing collaboration as a convoluted network of international collaboration that needs delicate diplomation.

Last year, Turkiye made a public move to purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, and Germany remained the only offender within the partners in the consortium. All the partner countries have unanimously to approve any export agreement of the advanced fighter aircraft and hence the opposition by Germany being a serious hitch to the whole deal.

Although Germany used to act as the main impediment to the export of Eurofighter, the United Kingdom has constantly proven to be keen in going through with the sale to Turkiye. The deal had already been backed for months by all the other production partners with the exception of Germany, regardless of the apparent interest of Turkiye in the acquisition, as well as economic investment associated with the purchase.

The signing of the friendship treaty necessitated the need in a coordinated export campaigns, which was aptly focused on by Prime Minister Starmer. With regard to exports, this is something that we talked at some length about today, and also to have something of export campaigns that are more common, that are to be done more in coordination with each other. It is a good thing on behalf of both our countries, and it is a good thing in Europe, Starmer said.

UK-Germany friendship treaty is a treaty that sets a platform of greater cooperation in the field of exports of defense goods with each country getting set to help the export of a jointly produced defense item. This agreement recognizes the significance of a Defined agenda in the process of transferring the defense related products either through intergovernmental programs or programs devised by themselves as defense industries.

Starmer also added, that the two countries have not only talked about that, but have also started taking the initiatives to ensure that this becomes rather more coordinated, rather more joined up and rather more cooperative. This strategic process is a real step forward and change in European defense exports policy that might serve as the example of multinational collaboration in a field of defense in the future.

To strengthen its air force force, Turkiy is in talks to buy 40 Eurofighter, which are estimated at about 5.6 billion dollars to replace its old systems of air force systems. Although Turkiye has the second-largest army under NATO, in the past the country had to deal with arms embargo and as a result the country went to the point of substantially increasing its internal defence capacity within the past 20 years.

Procurement of the Eurofighters is a significant part of the overall air force modernization project underway in Turkiye, which accompanies the nation developing indigenous defense systems such as drones, missiles, and ships. Turkiye is also in advanced stages of producing its own fifth-generation fighter jet, also called Kaan, and which is meant to replace the aging fleet of F-16 fighter jets in the Air Force Command, in the 2030s.

BAE systems have been very much positive that new orders on Eurofighter will be received by different countries such as Turkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Managing director Europe and International at the BAE Systems Air, Richard Hamilton mentioned to reporters that the company was only too confident to state that with current sales campaigns the company could order new aircraft and it could be up to 150 new Typhoons.

This assurance is supported by the fact that Britain has been willing to support the upgrading of capability on the Typhoon platform subsequently extending the life of the aircraft and even making it quite appealing to export partners. The certainty it brings to the export partner, you know, when they get with the Saudis, with the Turkish, when they see that something has some life it just makes the whole discussion so much easier, Hamilton explained.

During the summit meetings of NATO, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was looking forward to getting the backing of current German Chancellor Merz on the sale of the Eurofighter. Earlier this month, President Erdogan convened talks with the British and German leaders on the jets at the NATO summit, before claiming that there were “positive developments” on the matter.

The strategic significance that both states have attached to the Eurofighter deal is showcased by these high level diplomatic interactions and particularly how Turkiye has attached so much significance on acquiring the deal because it believes that it is critical to its air defense capabilities and its interoperability needs within NATO.

Also read this: Turkiye Officially Orders 6th KAAN Fighter Jet Prototype

The Turkiye Eurofighter deal which has proceeded well together with the UK-Germany friendship treaty is an indication of the emergence of a stronger European defense cooperation. Despite the recent tensions, Turkiye is still one of the biggest arms clients of Germany and the initial data of the year 2024 indicate that German defense exports to Turkiye amount to 231 million Euros.

The trade unions in Britain have stated the paramount significance of getting new orders of Eurofighters, as without more orders, certain BAE production lines doing the final assembly may find themselves in a state of work shortage during the 2030s. Successful completion of the Turkiye deal, and the other possible export deals, would guarantee the European defense industry production and workforce levels in the face of dwindling corporate defense-related jobs and increases the capabilities of the NATO alliance.

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